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Evra: It would be a failure if I won nothing with France

Manchester United and France defender Patrice Evra says it would be a failure for him if he did not win a tournament with his national team.

The former Monaco full-back made his debut for les Bleus in 2004 and has since gone on to earn 46 caps for his country, representing them in four major competitions, and captaining the side at the World Cup in 2010.

In stark contrast to his domestic career at Old Trafford, the 31-year-old’s international career has been fraught with off-field controversy and is yet to produce any success on the pitch. The Senegalese-born full-back is now keen to put that right, believing that the international set-up has improved under Didier Deschamps.

Evra told La Gazzetta dello Sport: “After World Cup 2010, Italy improved their way of playing and their results, but France had more difficulties.

“Now I want to win with my national team, it will be a failure for me not winning.

“With [former international coach Laurent] Blanc I lost my position as a regular player, now with Deschamps things are better. He said to me ‘only if you play well you will be a regular player.'”

France take on Italy at the Stadio Ennio Tardini in Parma and ahead of the friendly, Evra emphasised the importance of Mario Balotelli, but denied their respective club’s rivalry was relevant.

He added: “Balotelli is a big player, but it won’t be City against United. I love Italy, in Italy I grew up like a man and like a player. I felt Italy like a family.”